Listen to a sample
The Better Part
- Author
- Thomas Keating O.C.S.O.
- Narrator
- Chris Courtenay
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 26 January 2023
- Run Time
- 3 hours 13 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
Thomas Keating was a Cistercian monk who founded the worldwide 'Contemplative Outreach', teaching people the art of meditation. Father Keating’s enlightening commentary on the contemplative meaning of the gospel, particularly the story of the siblings from Bethany, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, fits into the great monastic tradition of Christian teaching.
The talks on which this book was based were given at the John Main Seminar in 1998, the annual international event of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Previous presenters have included the Dalai Lama, Jean Vanier, Bede Griffiths, and William Johnston.
A monk reflects on Scripture in the light of experience. He or she utters a word that startles his listeners into realizing that tradition is not a matter of second-hand experience but the living and human self-transmission of Christ to his disciples.
Critics Review
-
Reviewed in Catholic Library World, March 2001 Highlights: "This book is easy and enjoyable to read. Those who are interested in "the better part" will be pleased and encouraged to find ways to help themselves along the path."
-
"The Better Part is a modest volume in size but capacious in its wisdom and common (spiritual) sense. [...] It would be wonderful for someone to interview Keating at length and publish the results as a book. His capacity to say profound things in a relatively brief space is pure gift. The final 27 pages of Q&A are worth the price of the book. I wished only for more."--Lawrence S. Cunningham, Commonweal, November 9, 2001
-
"Any meditator using any method of wordless, imageless prayer will find this book a rich source of wisdom and very practical advice."--Betty Fricke, Monos, 2001
-
The "better part," of course, is that chosen by the introspective Mary of Bethany in the New Testament story, whose experience has long been taken by the contemplative religious. Father Keating, leader of the Centering Prayer movement, understands the contemplative and prayerful life as a form of participation in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and his book is both a graceful description of that life and a how-to. For most collections.
Library Journal
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Thomas Keating O.C.S.O.
- Narrator
- Chris Courtenay
- Duration
- 3 hours 13 minutes
- Release Date
- 26 January 2023
- ISBN
- 9781399408578
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Bible readings, selections and meditations, Religion: general, Christianity, Prayer and prayer books, Mind, body, spirit: meditation and visualization, Spirituality and religious experience, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Better Part by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O., read by Chris Courtenay.Thomas Keating was a Cistercian monk who founded the worldwide 'Contemplative Outreach', teaching people the art of meditation. Father Keating’s enlightening commentary on the contemplative meaning of the gospel, particularly the story of the siblings from Bethany, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, fits into the great monastic tradition of Christian teaching.The talks on which this book was based were given at the John Main Seminar in 1998, the annual international event of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Previous presenters have included the Dalai Lama, Jean Vanier, Bede Griffiths, and William Johnston.A monk reflects on Scripture in the light of experience. He or she utters a word that startles his listeners into realizing that tradition is not a matter of second-hand experience but the living and human self-transmission of Christ to his disciples.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.